Improved post-auger



tnited nder- @stent dtiiiliw.

JAMESrXRMSTRONAG,

Letters Patent No. 92,504, dated July 13, 1869.

IMPROVED PQST-AU-VGER.

The Schedule referred togin these Letters Patent and Aincurring part of the same.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES ARMSTRONG, of Buoyrus, in the county of Crawford,- and State of Ohio, have invented a new and improved Machine forBoring Post- Holes; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear,^aud exact description thereof, which will enable those skilled Ain the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this speciiication.

The nature of my invention relates to improvements in machines for boring fence-post holes, vthe object of which is to provide a machine that may be drawn over the ground, so arranged that the animal used for drawing it may also 'be used for 'connnnnicating the rotary motion to the auger or boring-nstrlnneuts.

It consists in an improved auger, mounted ou a frame supported ou wheels, and provided with a sweep,

to which thc horse may be hitched for drawing the machine over the ground, and for operating the auger when the machine has been secured in the proper position.

Also, in an improved construct-ion of the hollow auger, whereby it may be opened, to'discharge the dirt, and locked together for operation.

Also, in an arrangement of detachable bits for the auger.

Also, in the arrangement of mechanism for raising and lowering theauger.

Also,'in the improved method of locking the wheels.

Also, in an improved"constructionsof' the guidingwheel, and method of attaching it to the frame for guiding it.

Also, in thc construction of the sweep, and the method of attaching it, whereby it admits of the animal drawing the machine or operating the auger.

Also, in a means of adjusting the table upon which the auger is supported, so as to maintain the auger in a vertical position.

In the drawings- Figure 1 represents a longitudinal vertical section of my improved machine;

Figure 2 represents a rear view, with parts broken away';

Figure B-represents a View of one of the spring-bolts and catches;

Figure 4 represents an under plan view of the guiding-wheel, and the manner of connecting it to the frame;

Figure 5 represents a view of the auger, partly in section;

Figure 6 represents two views of the method cf clutching the wheel to the axle;

Figure 7 represents a detached view of a portion of the sweep;

Figure 8 represents an end view of the auger; and

Figure 9 represents the ratchets and pawls, for elevating and depressing the auger.

the toothed pinion G'aud handLcrank H, whereby the axle, and the other is arranged to run-loosely, or ybe 'secured to the axle, and provided withrspurs al, which or BUC YRU's, OHIO Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts. 4

A represents a frame, supported on the axle of the wheels B, and at the front end ou the guiding-wheel O, which is suspended centrally upon the axle D, the ends of which are' borne in journal-boxes in the rim of the horizontal wheel E, on which the frame A rests, and to which it is connected by the'cnrved caps F, in which the said wheeLE oscillate's, beingJ .actuated by direction of themachine is governed.

One of the hind wheels is rigidly connected to the rigidly connected thereto by a spring-clutch, a, which is take into corresponding recesses in the hub of the wheel, when the clutch is pressed inward against the spring a3, and held there by the pin a2.

When it is desired to permit. the wheel'to -run loose on the axle, the pin is withdrawn and inserted -in a Y hole nearer the end ofthe axle, wherebythe spring a will prevent the lugs of the clutch from coming in contact with the hub.

In order that the posts may be set at regulardistances apart, the wheels are provided, in their rims, with the recesses b, wherein spring-bolts may be arranged to catch and stop the machine at-the proper time.

The said spring-bolts are provided with spring-l catches, which are maintained in notches in the bolts by the springs b3, whereby the bolts are prevented from contact with the -wheels'until pins b, arranged at distances in the rim of the wheels corresponding with therequired distance for the post-ho1es, are brought, by the movement of the wheels, into contact with the spring-catches, lifting them out of the notches inthe said bolts, when they will be forced into the notches'b' of the Wheels, by their springs 1),thereby-stoppin'g the machine.

I represents a table, supported on the frame A by the adjustingscrews K, whereby it may be adjusted to a horizontal position whenever it may be required by reason of uneven surface of the ground whereou the machine stands when a hole is to be bored.

L represents an auger, supported upon slides M, -arranged to work inthe vertical guides N, and provided With the rack O and wheel l?, for moving it up or down.

The wheel P is supported on a horizontal shaft, ar; ranged in suitable bearings; and provided with ktwo ratchets, pawls, and levers, (l and-e, one for raising it. up and the otherl for forcing it down. lhe body of the said auger is composed of two semicircnlar grooved parts, j' and f1, the part f being connected rigidly to the stem or shank fl, and the part j" being hinged thereto, and provided with a lug, f f3, projecting through a slot in the 'sliding and-rotating-sleeve Q, which is provided, at its upper end, with the annular groove q, into which the crotched rightangled end ofthe slide d takes, which slide is supported on the slides M, to which the shank f2 of the auger is secured, and is provided with the `handflever lr i'or working it.

s represents a pinion, connected to the shank fl of' the auger by a spline, Working in a groove in the said shank, and arranged between the two Ycross-pieces e jv, wherebyr it is vmaintained inA gear with the drivingwheel s ont-he vertical shaft t, to which motion is communicated by the sweep n, which is made in two parts, and jointed at w, for the purpose fof accommodating the outer end 'to the height of' the horse, however uneven the ground may be.

'lhe two parts ofthe auger are provided with recesses and projections w, wheiebbgwhenthey-are in condition for boring, they are locked together.

The bits'u' may be connected to the body ofthe auger, in a manner to be adjusted thereon Aas they wear, and` to be readily detached when desired.

Then the machine has been moved along to the proper position, the horse may be directed to work in a circular track around the machine, communicating .motion to the driving-wheel S', and from that to the auger, through the pinion The operator then, by theV hand-lever c, will force the auger into the ground until the desired depth has been atta-ined, after which, by disconnecting the pawl of the hand-lever c, and connecting that of the lever d, he will raise the auger out of the ground, and, by means of the hand-lever lr, will work the sleeve Q quickly up and down,-thereby shaking out the dirt from the two parts o1" the auger.

Then, by directing the horse in the 1 u'operdircction to advance the machine another stage, and connecting the yoke, by which he is hitched to the sweep, to the pin .fc by a chain, and withdrawing the spring-bolts bl from the notches b in the wheels, the'inacliine may be moved forward to take up the next position for the next hole, at which point the machine will be stopped bythe spring-bolts flying into the said notches b on being released from their catches L by the pins 71.

The horse is then disconnected from the pin :11, and set into a circular motion again, and the operation of boring proceeded with as before.

The method of guiding the machine4 will be readily understood without further description.

I vclaim as new, and desire to vsecure by Letters Patent- 1. The'machine for boring post-holes, provided with the mechanism for transporting it over the-ground, and the mechanism for giving it rotary motion, all arranged as described, for the purpose specified.

".f. The post-hole auger, constructed of the parts f and f', and hinged4 together substantiallyas and for the purpose described. v

3. The combination, with the auger constructed as described, of the Vsleeve Q, handle o', and slide q, for operating the slide, substantially as and for the purpose described.

4. In combination with the auger, constructed as described, the ratehets and pawls d e, rack O, toothed wheel l, sleeve Q, angular slide Q', and hand1ever fr, all arranged and operating as described for the purpose specified.

5. lhe combination,with the wheels B of the springbolts b1, spring-catches b2, and pins b, substantially as and for the purpose described. l

6. The guiding-wheel C, constructed as described, in combination with' the toothed wheel E and frame A, substantially as and for the purpose described.

7 The sweep u, provided' with the joint w, with ing the machine over the ground, substantially as and for the purpose described.

8. The table I, provided with means, as described, for connecting it to frame A, and for adjusting it so as to present the auger in a Vertical position, substan tial] y as and for the purpose described.

JAMES ARMSTRONG.

Witnesses:

D. F. WELSH, G. S. SEELsBY.

means i'or connecting the horse to the frame fordraw-` 

